Five Games To Watch This Week 2/24 - 3/2

F Blake Griffin and the Clippers will look to continue their
winning ways against the Rockets.

Golden State Warriors vs. Chicago Bulls
Wednesday February 26, 2014 8pm

The Warriors have dipped a little in the standings, currently sitting as the 7 seed in the Western Conference. They have won seven of their past 10 games, so they hope they can continue to win games and improve their position. The Bulls have played well despite not having Derrick Rose as well, and that's a testament to Tom Thibodeau. This game is interesting because of the contrast of styles in play for both teams. The Warriors love to run up and down despite not having a deep team. Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson love to shoot as soon as the ball ends up in their hands, so the Bulls will have their hands full. The Bulls are second in the league in points allowed, so we'll see what gives.

* Houston Rockets vs. Los Angeles Clippers
Wednesday February 26, 2014 10:30pm ESPN

The Rockets were able to jump the Clippers and Trailblazers in the standings, so the Clippers will look to protect home court in this game and try to jump the Rockets in the standings as well. The Clippers have won the first two games of the season series with two more to play, so a win for the Clippers here will have great meaning. Both teams could very well end the season with identical records, so a tiebreaker would come into play. The Rockets have gotten hot, and thus have been able to climb the standings. However, those wins haven't necessarily come against great teams except for their win against the Spurs. The Rockets believe they are starting to find themselves and their strengths as a team, which could make them very dangerous in the postseason.

Washington Wizards vs. Toronto Raptors
Thursday February 27, 2014 7pm

This is the final game of the season series for these two teams, and the Wizards would love nothing more than to beat the Raptors. The Raptors have won the first three games, including winning two in Washington DC each by double digits. The Raptors are in front of the Atlantic Division, placing them as the 3 seed in the conference. The Wizards are currently the 5 seed, despite being at .500 with a 28-28 record. It's been that kind of season for the Eastern Conference. Depending on how things shape up this season, these two teams could see each other in the playoffs. John Wall received an All-Star berth this season, giving the Wizards their first All-Star in awhile. The Raptors got the same thing as well, as DeMar DeRozan was selected as an All-Star for the first time in his career. These two teams could be in playoff contention for years to come if all goes right.

Memphis Grizzlies vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
Friday February 28, 2014 8pm

The Grizzlies have gotten back into playoff contention, but they're still on the outside looking in. They are currently the 9 seed, so they're hoping the Warriors continue to be a little more inconsistent and fall out of the playoff race. If the Grizzlies can stay healthy, they can continue their surge and get in. They would like to get a quality win also, and this would be one. The Thunder are 0-2 since Russell Westbrook returned, and both of those losses have come at home. Naturally, the chatter about Westbrook's compatibility with Kevin Durant will return, but it was proven last year the Thunder need Westbrook in order to make a championship run. Westbrook is just returning from a long absence, so it'll take some time to get re-acquainted. The Thunder will be fine. However, the Grizzlies are the unknown.

Dallas Mavericks vs. San Antonio Spurs
Sunday March 2, 2014 7pm NBATV

Once upon a time, these two teams were big rivals in the Western Conference. Both teams had beaten each other in the playoffs, especially when it was least expected. However, the Mavericks are not the team they once were, but the Spurs continue to shock the casual fan by staying in championship contention. Tim Duncan will turn 38 years old in April, so many people are looking for the time where he no longer displays the double-double play. Duncan is keeping himself in great shape, and Gregg Popovich is keeping him healthy by resting him in certain games. The Spurs do not have a game the day before or the day after this one, so expect Duncan to play in this one. We'll see if Tony Parker's absence will have ended by this time. He's out indefinitely, so I believe he won't be ready in this one.

* GAME OF THE WEEK

Five Games To Watch This Week 2/17 - 2/23

Heat F Lebron James and Thunder F Kevin Durant will meet for
the second and final time in the regular season this Thursday night. 

San Antonio Spurs vs. Los Angeles Clippers
Tuesday February 18, 2014 10:30pm NBATV

The Spurs have three tough games on the West Coast this week, and all of them are must-watches. If the Spurs have been playing the way they've been playing against the elite of the Western Conference so far, they could very well embark on a three-game losing streak. The Clippers easily handled the Spurs the first time the Spurs played them in the Staples Center. Tony Parker left that game early with an injury, but the Spurs will not use that as an excuse for the loss. The Clippers are only two games behind the Spurs in the Western Conference, so this is a game they want to win. This is also the final meeting between these teams, so the winner of this game owns the season tiebreaker if that should be an issue at the end of the regular season.

Houston Rockets vs. Los Angeles Lakers
Wednesday February 19, 2014 10:30pm ESPN

The Lakers suck, as they're tied with the Kings for the worst record in the Western Conference. Meanwhile, the Rockets are rolling. After losing two straight to the Grizzlies, the Rockets have won seven straight games to jump ahead of the Clippers and Trailblazers for the three seed. This game isn't notable because it's a matchup between two good teams. It's a must-watch because Dwight Howard will make his return to the Staples Center to play the Lakers for the first time since departing the Lakers as a free agent. You can expect a lot of boos. With an underwhelming roster, Howard will have the last laugh.

Miami Heat vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
Thursday February 20, 2014 8pm TNT

Kevin Durant is rightfully sick and tired of the comparisons about him and Lebron James. Both players will go at it for the final time in the regular season, and they may see each other again in the NBA Finals. It seems like Durant has locked up the MVP award, averaging 31.5 points a game while James is third averaging 26.5 points a game. The Thunder also handed the Heat an embarrassing home loss last month, and the Thunder may get Russell Westbrook back for this game. The Thunder can make a statement here with a resounding sweep of the Heat. Of course, a better statement would be an NBA title over the Heat.

San Antonio Spurs vs. Phoenix Suns
Friday February 21, 2014 9pm

The Spurs have beaten the Suns twice so far this season, but those wins didn't come easy. The Suns are shocking the country with their play, which has them in playoff contention. If the season were to end today, the Spurs would be playing the Suns in the first round. The Suns are a team that's young and full of energy, so the Spurs may have problems against them if they were to play each other in a playoffs series. If you remember the 2010 postseason, Goran Dragic had his coming-out party against the Spurs in the second round during his first stint with the Suns. The Suns surprisingly swept the Spurs in that series to advance to the Western Conference Finals. Could Tony Parker have problems with Dragic here?

Los Angeles Clippers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
Sunday February 23, 2014 1pm ABC

We get back to our ABC doubleheaders with a great one, as the Clippers and Thunder don't seem to like each other at all. The first time these two teams played this season, Serge Ibaka and Matt Barnes were involved in a scuffle, and Barnes was ejected. Barnes would later engage in a Twitter rant during the game while in the locker room after being ejected. That rant cost him some money as well. Barnes isn't the only player to not like Ibaka, and Ibaka isn't the only player to not like Barnes either. Whenever Blake Griffin is involved, things can get testy. Griffin is strong and imposes his strength and force on opponents, drawing their ire at times. The Clippers would like to gain ground on the Thunder, but they're six back and the Thunder have been rolling. I'm not sure the Clippers catch that top spot.

Five Games To Watch This Week 2/10 - 2/16

Before he sets off on a busy All-Star weekend, Trailblazers'
G Damian Lillard will look to beat two of the top teams in the West.

Miami Heat vs. Phoenix Suns
Tuesday February 11, 2014 9pm

The Suns are in the middle of a tough stretch here, so a win against the defending champions is needed. It was around this time last season when the Heat went on their 27-game winning streak, so they can get hot at any moment and rip off wins rather easily. The Pacers hold a good lead atop the Eastern Conference standings, so the Heat needs this win just as much as the Suns. Of course, one win here won't do much in the big picture, but for the Suns, a win against this team is huge for their confidence considering they're a young basketball team making an unexpected playoff run. Both teams average just over 104 points a game, so offense will be seen here.

Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Portland Trailblazers
Tuesday February 11, 2014 10:30pm NBATV

This is the final regular season matchup between these Northwest Division teams, and the Trailblazers will love nothing more than to get a victory here. A victory here against the Thunder will mean the Trailblazers will have taken three out of four games against the Thunder. This tiebreaker could be important late in the season, so this game is very important for both teams. This is the week before All-Star weekend, and both teams will be represented with a couple of players, so it's important to stay focused and finish off the first half of the season strong.

Atlanta Hawks vs. Toronto Raptors
Wednesday February 12, 2014 7pm

Both teams are 10 games behind the second place Heat in the Eastern Conference, but they occupy the 3 and 4 seeds. This is only the second meeting between the two teams, with their final two matchups coming in late March. Those will probably be much more important than this matchup here, but they're both playing to stay in the top half of the Eastern Conference so they can get home-court advantage in the first round. They probably won't care where they are exactly as long as they end as a 3 or 4 seed. They know a date with the Pacers or Heat awaits them in the second round, and I wouldn't want to face either team.

Miami Heat vs. Golden State Warriors
Wednesday February 12, 2014 10:30pm NBATV

The Warriors beat the Heat in Miami for two consecutive seasons, so they're looking for the season sweep in Oakland. The Warriors have been an up-and-down team for the most part. A mediocre start to their season was followed by an impressive win streak of 10 games in late December into the New Year. However, the Warriors have gone 6-7 since the win streak ended, so they just can't get any consistent play. A win against the Heat would be clutch for them going into the All-Star break. The Heat's time on the west coast will end with this game, but they'll continue to play on the road after the All-Star break in the Midwest.

Portland Trailblazers vs. Los Angeles Clippers
Wednesday February 12, 2014 10:30pm

These two teams played a great game the day after Christmas, when the Trailblazers were able to prevail in overtime over the Clippers. This is the second of only three meetings between these two teams, and this is the only game the Trailblazers will play in the Staples Center against the Clippers. The Clippers will most likely have Chris Paul for this game, so they're happy to be close to full strength in this one. The Trailblazers continue on their mission to prove to the league they are legit. Their rise to the top of the league resembles the sudden rise to the top of the Western Conference by the New Orleans Hornets back in the 2007-2008 season. Paul was the leader of that team and a legitimate MVP candidate leading them to a 57-25 record and a 2 seed. They spent the majority of that season showing other teams and fans they were legit as well.